BetterPhoto Q&A
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BetterPhoto Member		Slide Film...Transparencies...negatives...ugh! I have always thought that slide film and transparencies are the same thing. But my honey keeps insisting that there is a difference, though he seems incapable of defining just what that difference is. So, guys, would you please help this poor girl out and tell me what, if any, differences exist between the terms? Also, I have a film scanner at home and work off my negatives with pretty good results. Would slide/transparency film give better results? D. To love this question, log in above June 28, 2001

John A. Lind		D, Yes and no. Hope you didn't bet money on it if you're looking for an exacting, definitive answer. All of the following are commonly used jargon for transparency film: 1. Transparency: the film itself. 2. Diapositive: another, older word for transparency film (referring to the fact it is a positive image, not a negative one). Some languages other than English use their spelling of this word for transparency film. 3. Slide: a transparency mounted in a frame for handling, archival storage, and/or projection. 4. Reversal: the generic process for developing transparency film. 5. E-6: a specific Ektachrome process for developing all but Kodachrome and Scala transparency films. 6. K-14: as specific Kodachrome process for developing Kodachrome. 7. Chrome: slang term for transparency. Many transparency film trademark names end with a suffix of "chrome." -- John To love this comment, log in above June 28, 2001

Jeff S. Kennedy		More simply put, transparencies are slides (positive images) and negatives are.....well negatives (reverse or negative images). Generally speaking transparencies are the things you stick in your slide projector and negatives are the things you get prints made from. To love this comment, log in above June 29, 2001

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